It took the Russian military a while to realize that strategic bombers constitute the most “useful” leg of the strategic triad – unlike ballistic missiles, they can be used in a conventional mission or, if push comes to shove, in a “demonstration” nuclear mission of the kind practiced during the West-99 exercise in 1999.

Using strategic bombers in conventional role, however, required an upgrade that would allow them to deliver conventional (which means more accurate) cruise missiles and (presumably precision-guided) bombs. As part of this upgrade, in 2005, the Air Forces is expected to receive a conventional version of the Kh-55/AS-15 long-range cruise missile known as Kh-555. The Air Forces also sent one of its Tu-160 bombers for an overhaul – it will return to active service in 2005 equipped with new avionics. This bomber will be capable of delivering gravity bombs as well as cruise missiles (so far, Tu-160 could only carry cruise missiles). No plans for further upgrades have been announced so far, but it is reasonable to expect that at least some other Tu-160 bombers will undergo similar overhaul in the next few years. However, I haven’t seen anything about plans to upgrade Tu-95MS.

In addition to the modernized bomber, the Air Forces will receive a new Tu-160 plane in 2005, bringing the number of Tu-160s to 15. Interestingly enough, it does not seem that this new bomber will be equipped with the new avionics like the one that is returning from overhaul. Well, its time will probably come some day.

Judging by the official projections, made public in November, Russia is not planning any serious cuts of its strategic bomber force until at least 2010 – it is expected that by the end of the decade the Air Forces will have about 75 bombers. It has 78 now and will have 79 in 2005, after the new Tu-160 enters service. Maybe it is these four bombers that the Air Force Commander-in-Chief is eager to sell to China?

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Russia conducted a new test of a Kh-555 air-launched cruise missile - a conventional version of the Kh-55, which has been in service with the strategic aviation since 1981. The first test of Kh-555 was conducted in 1999 and, according...

Conventional missions will play more prominent role in future operations of the Russian strategic aviation (I mentioned this before). According to Vladimir Mikhailov, the commander-in-chief of the Air Force, the program that began with conversion of on...

It looks like the Strategic Aviation will not get the promised new Tu-160 bomber this year. According to an account of Sergei Ivanov's visit to the Ural-Volga military district, the aircraft will be delivered in 2006....

Speaking at a press-conference, Lt.-Gen. Igor Khvorov, the commander of the Long-range Aviation, detailed strategic bomber acquisition plans. Two Tu-160 bombers that were expected to enter active service in 2005 will be delivered in the first quarter o...

Of course the deterioration of the strategic forces makes them more vulnerable. But they have always been vulnerable (to a degree). So, the question should be not whether the forces are vulnerable, but rather whether can support deterrence. The answer to this is yes.

You mentioned the one TU-160 that will return to service from overhaul with a new set of equipment and electronics along with (most likely) capability to carry a new KH-555 missile. A question arises - what about two other missiles that have been mentioned often recently - that is the KH-101 and KH-102? As far as I know those two missiles (virtually two variants of the same design) were supposed to replace the old KH-55 in it's nuclear role, as well as to give the Strategic Aviation some conventional capabilities. Will the new TU-160 be prepared for/armed with those too? What's the status of their development?

And second question, though this is rather unrelated to Strategic Forces. Do you have any knowledge regarding the T-60 tactical bomber project in works at Sukhoi design bureau since early 90's? I ask because it seems very unlikely that Russia will find sufficient funds to introduce this kind of an aircraft anytime soon, but nonetheless rumors of it being developed/constructed keeps coming back every once in a while. Are these only a remains of a soviet-era passion for disinformation, or is the work on that bomber really in progress?

I think I've seen reports on the new (Kh-101) missile, but nothing specific - just that the missile is in development. I hope that the current modification of Tu-160 is done with the new missile in mind, but there is no way to tell.